been crooked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been crooked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been dishonest or morally wrong over a period of time. Example: "The politician has been crooked for years, taking bribes and manipulating the system for personal gain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

They also helped themselves and their friends to a big wad of the cash.Most of Nigeria's rulers have been crooked, but Sani Abacha was probably more crooked than the rest.

The Economist

Then he asked if my nose had always been crooked.

The New Yorker

Enoch's teeth had been crooked and brown and must have pained him for years.

The New Yorker

Since Joseph Shea died, his family's world has been crooked and unfinished, still standing but on the brink of falling down.

The New York Times - Magazine

He passed easily, he told me — he had never been crooked, although plenty of his fellow-cops were — and he was assigned to a new downtown unit led by former soldiers.

The New Yorker

But there have also been crooked union leaders -- a fact not diminished by the existence of corporate thieves.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"I call her crooked Hillary, she's crooked," he said.

The Guardian

"I call her 'Crooked Hillary.' She's crooked Hillary.

Huffington Post

His face was crooked.

The New Yorker

"He's crooked.

The New York Times - Sports

I could be crooked.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "been crooked" to describe a person's character or actions, ensure the context provides specific examples or evidence of the dishonesty to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "been crooked" as a general insult or accusation without providing supporting details or evidence. This can weaken your argument and damage your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been crooked" functions primarily as a past participle phrase, often used as part of a verb phrase to describe a state of having been dishonest or corrupt. As shown by Ludwig, it can modify nouns or pronouns, indicating a past condition or characteristic.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "been crooked" is a past participle phrase primarily used to describe someone or something that has exhibited dishonesty or corruption over a period of time. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and most frequently found in news and media contexts. While understandable, using the phrase requires specific evidence of dishonesty. For more formal settings, alternatives such as "has been dishonest" or "has been unethical" may be more appropriate. The phrase implies a long-standing pattern of unethical or illegal behavior.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been dishonest

Focuses specifically on the lack of honesty as opposed to general wrong doing.

has been corrupt

Highlights the moral decay or impairment of integrity.

has been unethical

Emphasizes a violation of moral principles or standards.

has been fraudulent

Implies deceit or trickery, especially in financial matters.

has been bent

Suggests manipulation or twisting of rules or situations for personal gain.

has been twisted

Similar to 'bent', but may also imply a more malicious or deceptive intent.

has been perverted

Indicates a corruption or distortion from the original or correct course.

has strayed from the path

Suggests a deviation from morality.

has turned rogue

Implies abandoning principles

has gone astray

Similar to 'strayed from the path', but can also refer to physical deviation.

FAQs

How can I use "been crooked" in a sentence?

You can use "been crooked" to describe someone's long-term dishonest behavior, as in "The politician has "been crooked" for years, accepting bribes and manipulating the system."

What's a less accusatory way to say someone has "been crooked"?

Instead of directly accusing someone of having "been crooked", you could say they "have been dishonest" or "have been unethical", depending on the context.

Is "been crooked" formal or informal language?

"Been crooked" leans toward informal, especially when describing a person. More formal alternatives include "has engaged in corrupt practices" or "has exhibited a lack of integrity".

How does "been crooked" differ from "being dishonest"?

"Been crooked" implies a pattern of dishonesty over time, suggesting a sustained departure from ethical behavior. "Being dishonest" can refer to a single instance or a general disposition.